Chapter 5

Sydney's POV

"You okay?" Gavin asked me.

We were drifting down a residential area but the houses weren't the ones with white picket fences like my neighborhood. It was huge and classy so I suspected we were on the other side of town.

"Sure. Fine," I replied curtly.

Gavin didn't ask if I wanted to talk about it. He stared straight ahead, resting one elbow on the open window. He could sense my nervousness through my answer but didn't push the subject further.

The road got narrower as we entered into a somewhat long driveway. All you could see were trees on the side lining up endlessly. Oddly, it reminded me of a horror movie. I shuddered.

Gavin seemed to be enjoying himself. He drove along humming a tune as the afternoon air ruffled his hair. I huddled in the passenger seat, arms folded.

"Why are you so happy?" I asked him.

He shot me a smile. "Nothing. Just excited, that's all."

I couldn't think of anything to say. I was smarting at Shelly's last words to me in the lunchroom, but I couldn't explain this to Gavin. This would earn me an earful of lecture.

He looked at my face and his smile faded then went back to eyeing the road.

The driveway seemed to be endless as I watched absentmindedly on the trees, not minding my surroundings. My mind was still stuck on my decision and may I add, a reckless one. After a few minutes, the car had halted to a stop.

"We're here," he announced, breaking me out of my reverie.

I blinked my eyes then craned my neck to look out the window.

Holy guacamole!

If my eyes were deceiving me, I say that is one heck of a massive house, inspired by the classicist. The windows were big and tall, and behind it were velvet drapes that were fastened with a golden rope. On the front door were four pillars, two on each side.

I turn my head to face Gavin with a surprised look. "You live in that...that..." I stuttered, not really sure what to describe that ginormous structure. I knew Gavin was wealthy, heck his dad donated lots of money for our school but this house had redefined it all.

It was definitely huge in all its grandeur beauty.

He chuckled. "Yeah," he said in confirmation. "It's just a house, Syd."

I rolled my eyes. "Are you crazy?" I asked in disbelief. "My house could fit in there."

"Let's just get inside, Syd."

We got out of his car and headed for the front door. On the way, my eyes darted to the side and I gasped, marveled at the manicured hedges and abundance of flowers, in all colors and variety. It felt like I was in a different world and was enthralled by its ethereal beauty.

Amused by my expression, Gavin chuckled and started to drag me by the arm. "You look like you've been struck by lightning."

Huffing, I yanked my arm out of his grasp and narrowed my eyes, "It's not everyday that you get to see a house as beautiful as this."

He rolled his eyes. "Enough with the chit chat," he ordered with a grin. "Now come on. Let's get inside."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The inside of Gavin's house was even magnificent. Everything looks like something that came out of a magazine for celebrity homes. Scanning around, I bet those paintings were worth thousands of dollars let alone those vases on the corner. It felt like a showroom and you couldn't help but be careful of your movements, especially your hands. Those things cost more than my Harry Potter hardbound set copies.

"Riley!" Gavin hollered. "Where are you? I'd like you to meet someone!"

"Who is it?" A soft, melodic voice who I assumed was Riley, bellowed from somewhere. "Is it another one of your whores?"

Gavin rolled his eyes. "No! Just get in here, twerp!"

"I'm in the living room." she hollered back. " I'm too lazy to move. And stop calling me twerp you monkey butt!"

Gavin sighed. "I'm sorry. "he said apologetically. "My sister could be a pain in the butt sometimes."

For some reason, I was dreading what Gavin's sister would be like. Gavin was known for causing trouble hell, he even burned half of the Chemistry lab because he felt like mixing the wrong chemicals out of sheer fun. If he could do so much damage then what would that make his sister then? I shuddered at the possibility of her being a million times worse than him.

I smiled nervously. "It's okay."

Smiling, he dragged me to the living room where a girl was sitting on a couch watching the TV. She hadn't heard us come in so Gavin cleared his throat to get her attention. She got startled then turned her head and glared at him.

Riley was a girl version of Gavin. She had long wavy black hair that reached past her shoulders. Her features were soft yet, a bit edgy if you looked hard to get a proper look. She had the same emerald eyes just like her brother.

"Don't do that," Riley hissed.

Chuckling, Gavin just shook his head. "Sorry," he said. "Listen, I need you to do a makeover on Sydney."

Riley sprung up from her seat to walk over to me. It was rather uncomfortable as she eyed me like a scientist, assessing for abnormalities.

"Wow bro," she said, shaking her head. " I didn't think you would go for the nerdy type. What happened to your limitless supply of skanks?" she asked, smirking a little.

Gavin rolled his eyes. "I don't do skanks." he said as though disgusted. "Now will do it or not?"

Riley narrowed her eyes. "Tell me why?"

Gavin turned to look at me as though silently asking if it was alright to tell my sordid story of woe. I just shrugged, not bothered at all so he relayed everything to her sister, not using the vanilla version. Riley just listened as her brother told him especially Shelly's stunt in the lunchroom and to be honest, it still had me flinching at the memory of it.

Sighing, Gavin heaved a sigh and asked her again. "So, will you do it?"

Out of nowhere, Riley laughed out loud. She literally guffawed like a donkey and I was torn if I was going to be awed at how cute her laugh was or strangle the life out of her for mocking me.

After a while, she sobered up and I shot her the stink eye. She didn't need to laugh so hard about my humiliation.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "Couldn't help it."

"So, are you going to do it or not?" Gavin asked impatiently.

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah. I'll do it. " she said. "I guess Sydney here needs a total makeover and a big one at that."

Sighing, I turned to stare at Gavin warily. I'd been itching to ask him why he was helping me. I was after all a nobody, a loser, and a goody two shoes.

"Gavin, why are you helping me?"

I went on. "I am just a nobody, a teacher's pet. Why?"

He looked straight into my eyes as though searching for something, like figuring some epiphany or reason and whatever it was, I had no idea. It better be good in the least or legit.

With a shrug, he finally spoke. "You needed a change."

I still didn't believe him. Clearly, he had an ulterior motive because no one was that nice. Since Gavin was a troublemaker, that made him all the more suspicious.

Narrowing my eyes, I spoke with pure dubiousness. "Why do I feel like you are holding something back?"

"Because."

"Gavin." 

"Sydney."

I threw my hands in the air. "Whatever! Let's get this over with."

Grinning, Riley grabbed my arm and dragged all the way up to her bedroom. I swear that girl was strong in contrast to her small frame. As we went inside, Gavin yelled from downstairs.

"Let me know when you're done!" he yelled. "I need to teach Sydney how to be a badass!"

She rolled her eyes then yelled out an 'okay' as a response and closed the door.

Surprisingly, her room was all pink. Pink carpet, pink closet, pink vanity, pink bed, pink curtains and pink bean bag. Everything was pink. Even her flat screen TV was pink.

"Holy!" I breathed as I looked around. "It's like Pepto-Bismol in here."

Riley shot me a glare. "No hating on my room okay?" she hissed.

Wow, her glare alone scared the crap out of me. She was definitely Gavin's sister. I held up both of my hands, palm's facing forward. "Sorry," I apologized. "It's just that you are the opposite of what I thought or maybe assumed about you. Since you are Gavin's sister, I was thinking along the lines of troublemaker slash arsonist slash terrorist slash cult leader," I said sheepishly.

She gasped, genuinely offended with my remark. " I may be Gavin's sister but let me tell you I am the opposite of that dork. I don't know why we are even related."

Maybe I was assuming too much so with a giggle, I wholeheartedly concluded that she was different from her brother. "Okay," I agreed. "So what year are you? Do you go to my school?"

She nodded. " "I'm a sophomore. I may be girly but I rarely socialize with people at school. Most of them are idiots or wanted to be friends with me because of my brother. Apparently, his bad boy image appealed to the ladies."

She went on. "Enough about me. Now sit, " she commanded, pointing to a chair in front of a vanity table. "Let's get this makeover started."

Here we go.

Gavin's POV

Flipping from one channel to another, my patience was wearing thin. They sure were taking their time with the makeover. Did Riley have to take that long in changing Sydney's appearance?

I turned the TV off, giving up scouring for something good to watch then leaned my head back on the couch headrest.

Staring up the ceiling, I wondered what Sydney would look like after the makeover. For sure, with Riley's expertise about fashion, I'd be damned if she would come out like a hot tamale. It was plain to see that Sydney was gorgeous underneath her tacky clothes. The douche, Craig, was just too superficial and went for Botox barbies like Shelly so it was his loss that he didn't see her real beauty behind her brainiac self. He was stupid to let her go.

I would piss my pants if he would come crawling back when he saw the newly improved Sydney.

Smirking, I couldn't wait to see Craig's face as he saw what he was missing. I'd make sure of that tomorrow.

Lost in my evil thoughts, I hadn't noticed someone cleared their throat and called for my name.

"Gavin," an irritated voice said. "Hey, Gavin."

I was imagining Craig's mouth hanging open like an idiot when someone jostled me, breaking me out of my reverie. Annoyed, I sat up straight to shoot a glare at the person who disturbed my evil imagination. "Who the hell..." I stopped mid sentence when I saw Riley, standing in front of me with her hand on her hip, glaring at me. "Riley?" I asked, bewildered.

She rolled her eyes. "Look behind you."

I frowned, confused. "What?"

Rolling her eyes again, she held my face on both sides and guided my head to another direction, might I add a bit forcefully. Was she trying to snap my neck?!

"Ow, Riley!" I cried trying to pry her hands off my face. "My neck."

She steadied my face and grinned. "Look."

Grunting, I let it go and humor her with what she was talking about.

If my eyes were deceiving me, I was pretty sure I was seeing an apparition but seriously, who's that pretty little thing standing there?

I sprung up to my seat and approached the goddess before me. "Who are you?"

The goddess rolled her eyes and smiled. "It's me, Sydney."

I quirked my eyebrows, dumbfounded. Wow, I had completely forgotten that she was here for a makeover. Riley did an impressive job cleaning her up nicely. I didn't even recognize her!

Thinking evil thoughts does that to you anytime.

Drinking in her appearance, she was no longer the boring old Sydney. Oh yeah, not at all. Her hair was now light brown, a bit wavy. She was wearing this green dress (I'm a guy so I had no idea how to describe the dress in detail) that was above her knees with a pair of glittery looking high heeled sandals. Her face was flawless with the right amount of makeup, not overdone.

She was one hot looking babe.

I nodded in approval. "Not bad, Sydney." I said. "You cleaned up nicely."

She blushed and I have to say it was cute. I was already tempted to gather her in my arms and smother her with kisses.

Now where did that come from?

Sobering up, a smirk graced my lips as I thought about the stage. "Are you ready for how to be a badass 101?" I asked.

Sydney gulped, looking all nervous all of a sudden. I'd only hoped she would get through this in one piece.